Lavender plant named ‘Riverina Margaret’

ABSTRACT

A new cultivar of Lavender plant named ‘Riverina Margaret’ that is characterized by purple flowers with light pink sterile bracts and green foliage.

Botanical classification: Lavandula hybrid.

Variety denomination: ‘Riverina Margaret’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Lavenderplant botanically known as Lavandula hybrid and hereinafter referred toby the cultivar name ‘Riverina Margaret’.

In 2004, approximately 90 Lavender plants were removed from an outdoorbed in a cultivated area of Wagga Wagga, New South Wales Australia. Theoutdoor bed contained many different hybrid Lavender plants. The 90Lavender plants were grown in containers and observed in Wagga Wagga,New South Wales, Australia. ‘Riverina Margaret’ was discovered in 2005as a single plant from among the 90 Lavender plants based on flowercolor and overall plant shape. The exact parent plants are unknown.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘Riverina Margaret’ by terminalcuttings was first performed in 2005 in Wagga Wagga, New South Wales,Australia. Since that time, under careful observation, the uniquecharacteristics of the new cultivar have been uniform, stable andreproduced true to type in successive generations of asexualreproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following represent the distinguishing characteristics of the newLavender cultivar ‘Riverina Margaret’. These traits in combinationdistinguish ‘Riverina Margaret’ as a new and distinct cultivar.

-   1. Lavender ‘Riverina Margaret’ exhibits purple flowers with light    pink sterile bracts.-   2. Lavender ‘Riverina Margaret’ exhibits green foliage.

The closest comparison cultivar is Lavender ‘Tinkled Pink’ (notpatented). ‘Riverina Margaret’ is different than ‘Tinkled Pink’ inhaving lighter pink sterile bracts and a more spreading habit. Incomparison, ‘Tinkled Pink’ has a more upright habit and darker pinksterile bracts.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The accompanying photograph illustrates the distinguishing traits ofLavender ‘Riverina Margaret’. The plant in the photograph shows anoverall view of a 2 year old plant. The photograph was taken usingconventional techniques and although colors may appear different fromactual colors due to light reflectance it is as accurate as possible byconventional photographic techniques.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following is a detailed description of the new Lavender cultivarnamed ‘Riverina Margaret’. Data was collected in Auckland, New Zealandfrom 9 month old outdoor grown plants. The time of year was summer inthe Southern Hemisphere and the average temperature was 20 to 26°Centigrade during the day and 12 to 18° Centigrade at night. Colordeterminations are in accordance with The Royal Horticultural SocietyColour Chart 2015 edition, except where general color terms of ordinarydictionary significance are used. The growing requirements are similarto the species. ‘Riverina Margaret’ has not been tested under allpossible conditions and phenotypic differences may be observed withvariations in environmental, climatic, and cultural conditions, however,without any variance in genotype.

-   Botanical classification: Lavandula hybrid ‘Riverina Margaret’.-   Use: Ornamental Perennial.-   Parentage: The exact parent plants of ‘Riverina Margaret’ are    unknown.-   Vigor: Moderate.-   Container size: 10 cm. and larger.-   Growth habit: Upright, outwardly spreading.-   Plant shape: Rounded with erect flower spikes.-   Height: Average 20 cm. in height.-   Width: Average 20 cm. in width.-   Hardiness: −9° to 38° C.-   Propagation: Terminal cuttings.-   Crop time: 9 months.-   Stem:    -   -   Branching habit.—Free branching.        -   Number of lateral branches.—Approximately 4.        -   Lateral branch dimensions.—2 mm. in width and 8.0 cm. in            length.        -   Lateral branch strength.—Strong.        -   Color.—N148A.        -   Pubescence.—Lightly covered with short hairs.        -   Internode length.—2.5 mm. between nodes.        -   Shape.—Square in cross-section.-   Foliage:    -   -   Leaf arrangement.—Opposite.        -   Compound or single.—Single.        -   Quantity of leaves per lateral branch.—10.        -   Leaf shape.—Linear.        -   Leaf apex.—Acute.        -   Leaf base.—Cuneate.        -   Leaf length.—2.0 to 3.5 cm. in length.        -   Leaf width.—2.75 to 5.3 cm. in width.        -   Texture (both sides).—Velvety.        -   Pubescence.—Soft short hairs on upper side, absent on bottom            side.        -   Leaf margin.—Entire.        -   Vein pattern.—Linear midrib with anastomoses veinlets.        -   Young leaf color (upper surface).—147A.        -   Young leaf color (lower surface).—147B.        -   Mature leaf color (upper surface).—147B.        -   Mature leaf color (lower surface).—147B.        -   Vein color (both surfaces).—147B.        -   Leaf attachment.—Sessile.        -   Leaf fragrance.—Aromatic, pungent.-   Flower:    -   -   Flower arrangement.—Terminal cylindrical spikes.        -   Inflorescence dimensions.—3.5 to 4.0 cm. in length and 1.2            to 1.5 cm. in diameter.        -   Quantity of flowers and buds per            inflorescence.—Approximately 35.        -   Flowering season.—Spring to Summer.        -   Time to flower or response time.—4 to 6 weeks after buds            form.        -   Fragrance.—Musk scent.        -   Self-cleaning or persistent.—Self cleaning.        -   Flower bud length.—2.0 mm. in length.        -   Flower bud diameter.—0.75 mm. in diameter.        -   Flower bud shape.—Ovate.        -   Bud color.—N92D.        -   Flower aspect.—Outward.        -   Flower shape.—Salverform.        -   Flower dimensions.—2 mm. in diameter and 5.5 mm. in height.        -   Flower longevity.—Lasts approximately 20 days.        -   Petal arrangement.—Rotate with five petals fused into a            tube.        -   Petal shape.—Spathulate.        -   Petal margin.—Entire.        -   Petal apex.—Rounded.        -   Petal texture (both surfaces).—Hirsute.        -   Petal dimensions.—5 mm. in length and 0.7 mm. in width.        -   Petal color when opening (upper side).—N92C.        -   Petal color when opening (under side).—N92C.        -   Petal color when fully opened (upper side).—N92C.        -   Petal color when fully opened (under side).—N92C.-   Sepals:    -   -   Sepal number.—5.        -   Sepal shape.—Linear.        -   Sepal apex.—Acute.        -   Sepal base.—Fused.        -   Sepal margin.—Entire.        -   Sepal texture (both surfaces).—Covered with soft hairs.        -   Sepal dimensions.—5.3 mm. in length and 1.7 mm. in width.        -   Sepal color (both surfaces).—147C.-   Calyx:    -   -   Calyx shape.—Tubular.        -   Calyx dimensions.—5.3 mm. in length and 1.7 mm. in diameter.-   Peduncle:    -   -   Peduncle dimensions.—14 mm. in length and 1.5 mm. in            diameter.        -   Peduncle color.—N148A.        -   Peduncle strength.—Medium.-   Sterile bracts:    -   -   Sterile bract location.—On top of each spike.        -   Sterile bract quantity.—4.        -   Sterile bract shape.—Oblanceolate.        -   Sterile bract apex.—Rounded.        -   Sterile bract base.—Cuneate.        -   Sterile bract margin.—Entire, undulating.        -   Sterile bract texture (both surfaces).—Velvety.        -   Sterile bract dimensions.—20.0 mm. in length and 7.0 mm. in            width.        -   Sterile bract color (upper side).—N78C.        -   Sterile bract color (under side).—N78C.-   Reproduction organs:    -   -   Stamen number.—4.        -   Anther shape.—Oval.        -   Anther length.—0.5 mm. in length.        -   Anther color.—N92C.        -   Amount of pollen.—Moderate.        -   Pollen color.—2C.        -   Pistil number.—1 in number.        -   Pistil length.—3.0 mm.        -   Stigma shape.—Claviform.        -   Stigma color.—N92D.        -   Style length.—2.0 mm.        -   Style color.—155C.        -   Ovary color.—137C.-   Fruit and seed production: Plants of the new Lavender have not been    observed for fruit and seed production.-   Disease and pest resistance: Plants of the new Lavender have not    been observed for disease or pest resistance.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Lavenderplant named ‘Riverina Margaret’ as described and illustrated.